Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Stanford Sydnor said the fire at the home of Glenn Beecher Jr. at 7228 Lincoln Way East appears to have started in the master bedroom to the rear of house. He said Monday morning that the cause of the fire was undetermined, but it did not appear suspicious.

Sydnor said Beecher's father-in-law went to the house, smelled smoke and called 911. The alarm was dispatched at 8:53 a.m., Wishard said.

Advertisement

An ambulance crew was the first unit to arrive at the scene and found light smoke inside the wood-frame house, Wishard said. When the first fire engine arrived, firefighters ran a hose inside the house to try to extinguish the flames.

A second alarm was issued when it was determined more personnel was needed to fight the fire, which took about 45 minutes to bring under control, Wishard said.

The back of the house was gutted by the fire and there appeared to be substantial smoke damage to the front, as well. At least one vehicle parked directly behind the house appeared to have been heavily damaged by fire.

"We have electric heat, but it wasn't on," Beecher said as he stood in his yard. Beecher said no one was in the home when the fire was discovered.

The only injury reported was to a New Franklin Volunteer Fire Co. firefighter, who was taken to Chambersburg Hospital to be treated for heat exhaustion, Wishard said. Wishard did not release the firefighter's name.

Traffic along Lincoln Way East was backed up more than a mile west of the fire. Emergency vehicles lined the south side of the highway while the fire was being brought under control and during the cleanup afterward.

The last units left the scene at about 12:45 p.m.

Fayetteville was assisted by units from the Franklin, New Franklin, Mont Alto, Marion and South Mountain fire companies, as well as the West End and Vigilant Hose companies from Shippensburg, Pa., and the Franklin County Air Unit, Wishard said.